U.S. Rep. John Salazar will accept an appointment to the powerful U.S. House Appropriations Committee, signaling that he is not President-elect Barack Obama’s choice for secretary of agriculture.

Salazar’s office confirmed late Wednesday that he would take a seat on the Appropriations Committee, which makes decisions on federal spending in the House.

Two people close to the process, who asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak, said Salazar’s acceptance of one of the coveted spots on appropriations was a clear indication he was unlikely to end up as head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Eric Wortman, Salazar’s spokesman, said an announcement about the appropriations appointment was scheduled for today. Wortman said the Manassa Democrat still might end up in the Obama administration and stressed that Salazar was not withdrawing from consideration for the agriculture post.

“If Obama made an offer, he would consider it, but he sees this appointment to the Appropriations Committee as part of serving his district,” Wortman said.

Salazar’s decision to take the appropriations spot likely leaves one Coloradan under active consideration for a Cabinet position. Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet is a contender for education secretary. A source in Democratic politics said Bennet is in the process of being vetted by the Obama transition team for possible nomination.

On Wednesday, some national websites devoted to education moved Bennet’s name up their lists of possible nominees, though it is not known whether other names on the lists are also undergoing the vetting process. Bennet has repeatedly declined to comment on the secretary-of-education job or discuss whether he is under consideration. The Obama transition team does not discuss potential nominees.

Discussions leading to Salazar’s appointment to appropriations likely involved Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, who has strong ties to the House Democratic leadership, according to those close to Salazar.

Salazar’s potential selection to the Cabinet was always problematic for Democrats, who feared losing the Colorado district to a Republican in a special election if Salazar resigned. Though the 3rd Congressional District had once been reliably Republican, Salazar has made it a Democratic seat.

Republicans hold a 9,000-voter registration advantage in the district, which stretches from Pueblo to the Western Slope. Several Democrats said privately that they were concerned because two strong Democratic contenders had emerged, raising the prospect of a messy nominating contest.

Bill Thiebaut, the Pueblo district attorney, had expressed interest should the congressional seat become vacant. Others were pushing Bernie Buescher, the Democrat from Grand Junction who recently lost his re-election bid to the state House of Representatives.

The winner would have faced a Republican with the built-in numerical advantage among voters.

“This is good for Colorado,” said one individual close to the process of the increasingly likely chance that Salazar would remain in Congress. He added that Salazar’s appropriations seat meant Colorado likely would be in line to snag federal dollars for projects.

Christopher N. Osher is a reporter on the investigation team at The Denver Post who has covered law enforcement, judicial and regulatory issues for the news organization. He also has reported from war zones in Africa.

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